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New discoveries pave the way for improved understanding of stem cell research tools.

New discoveries pave the way for improved understanding of stem cell research tools.

Media Releases / 13 November 2017

A newly published paper in the prominent science journal ‘Nature Methods’ revealed that human pluripotent stem cells have distinct functional and molecular features when generated through various methods. This discovery, realised by the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institutes (ARMI) Polo Group, offers a new comprehensive study in the field of stem cell research. The findings were led by PhD student Ethan Liu and senior Postdoc Christian Nefzger.

“This research underlines the importance of understanding the tools that are used in stem cell studies” stated ARMI group leader Associate Professor Jose Polo. Until now, stem cells derived using various methods encompassed a series of different characteristics. This impacts downstream applications in basic and clinical research. These disparities and difficulties had not yet been comprehensively studied until the research undertaken by the Polo group lessened the complexity in the field.

The study employed the use of several reprogramming methods and genomic studies. Stem cells generated displayed a distinct gene, DNA methylation and protein expression profiles. Other observations included those of growth rates, colony morphologies and varying levels of genomic stability and differentiation potential. “This work paves the way for the development of systems that generate stem cells which more closely resemble human stem cell populations for use in the lab and in clinical studies” stated Polo.

The findings discovered were a result of the cumulative effort between ARMI and a number of institutes including:

Monash University Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology

Monash University Biomedicine Discovery Institute Development and Stem Cells Program

Contact information

Associate Professor Jose Polo

Notes to Editors About ARMI

The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) is dedicated to unlocking the regenerative capabilities of the human body. ARMI is a medical research centre based at the Clayton Campus of Monash University. Boasting 15 research groups studying a variety of regenerative approaches, ARMI is one of the largest regenerative medicine and stem cell research hubs in the world.